(This information from http://www.uschess.org/content/blogcategory/301/629/ )

Space Shuttle Endeavour launched on Monday morning, May 16, at 8:56 AM EDT. The launch of Endeavour marks the second-to-last launch of the Space Shuttle program - and the start of the second Earth vs. Space Chess Match, sponsored by NASA in conjunction with the U.S. Chess Federation.

Move one for space was made just prior to the first launch attempt on April 19, and Earth's first move was chosen by the 1,200+ participants at the National High School Chess Championship in Nashville, TN, that weekend.

NASA announced the winners of its 'Original Song Contest' after six weeks of public voting. The songs will awaken the STS-134 astronauts aboard space shuttle Endeavour during their ongoing mission.

"Sunrise Number 1" by Jorge Otero and the band Stormy Mondays from Oviedo, Spain, earned first place.

Tue, 24 May 2011 10:07:50 AM CDT

STS-134 Mission Specialists Drew Feustel and Mike Fincke will conduct the third spacewalk of the mission Wednesday. They will be trying a new pre-breathe protocol designed to replace the overnight campout in the airlock. The In-Suit Light Exercise (ISLE) is also expected to use less oxygen to prepare the spacewalkers for the higher oxygen environment that is required with the lower pressure inside the spacesuit.

Mon, 09 May 2011 02:40:11 PM CDT

NASA managers have set the liftoff of space shuttle Endeavour for 8:56 a.m. EDT on Monday, May 16. Space Shuttle Program Launch Integration Manager Mike Moses and Shuttle Launch Director Mike Leinbach announced the date at a news briefing Monday from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Fri, 06 May 2011 12:41:38 PM CDT

NASA managers met Friday afternoon and determined space shuttle Endeavour will launch no earlier than Monday, May 16 at 8:56 a.m. EDT. This weekend, technicians will continue to repair and retest electrical circuitry that caused a postponement of Endeavour’s April 29 launch attempt. NASA will air a news conference Monday at 3 p.m., to discuss the status of the work. This afternoon, NASA will issue a news release with further details about the news conference and the work that will be performed this weekend.

Tue, 03 May 2011 07:51:33 AM CDT

Technicians at NASA's Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Pad 39A removed the Load Control Assembly-2 (LCA-2) box in the orbiter's aft compartment last night. Teams are evaluating data from inspections and will install a new LCA-2 after evaluations and any repairs, if needed, have been made.

Managers will continue to evaluate the repair process and make any additional adjustments before scheduling Endeavour’s next launch attempt for its STS-134 mission to the International Space Station.

May 02, 2011, 4:32:28 PM

NASA space shuttle and International Space Station managers met Monday and determined that Tuesday, May 10 is the earliest Endeavour could be launched on the STS-134 mission. That date is success oriented based on preliminary schedules to replace a faulty Load Control Assembly (LCA) box in the orbiter's aft compartment.

Plans are for managers to reconvene Friday to determine a more definite launch date after the box is removed and replaced and the retest of systems has been completed.

Sun, 01 May 2011 01:31:06 PM CDT

Technicians and engineers at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida have identified the likely source of what caused heaters on a fuel line for space shuttle Endeavour's auxiliary power unit-1 (APU-1) to fail on Friday, scrubbing the first launch attempt for the STS-134 mission. The failure appears to be a power problem within the aft load control assembly-2 (ALCA-2), a box of switches controlling power feeds.

Fri, 29 Apr 2011 12:14:11 PM CDT

Shuttle launch director Mike Leinbach stated that Endeavour's launch will be no earlier than Monday at 2:33 p.m. EDT. Engineers need that time to troubleshoot an issue that resulted in today’s launch scrub.

Thu, 28 Apr 2011 09:35:36 AM CDT

Preparations for space shuttle Endeavour's launch are continuing as planned at NASA Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39A. STS-134 Commander Mark Kelly and his crew also are continuing their prelaunch activities. Liftoff to the International Space Station is scheduled for 3:47 p.m. EDT Friday.